COPE & Climbing

Patriots’ Path Council is proud to offer COPE, climbing, and zip line challenges for individuals and groups. You don’t need to be a member of Scouts BSA to enjoy our outstanding programs! We offer activities at Mount Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Stanhope, NJ and Winnebago Scout Reservation in Rockaway, NJ. Both camps are accredited by the Boy Scouts of America.

Nestled between Mount Allamuchy State Park and Stephens State Park, Mount Allamuchy Scout Reservation is one of a few Scouts BSA camps on the east coast that has natural rock climbing. With almost a thousand acres of property, there are climbing areas to meet any groups’ ability level. The camp boasts one of the most extensive COPE courses in the region.

COPE

Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (COPE) is an exciting outdoor program that strives to develop teamwork, communication, trust, self-esteem, problem-solving, decision making and fun in a group setting. This is the perfect opportunity to get youth leaders together and develop great troop teamwork.

Initiative games, low-course challenges, and high-course experiences await all participants. Our course includes a climbing and rappelling tower as well as a zip line and 25 low-course events. Participants climb, swing, balance, jump, rappel and think of solutions to a variety of activities. Most participants do much more than they thought they were capable of doing. Unit leaders are encouraged to participate.

Project COPE is an activity that attracts and holds the interest of older boys in Scouting. It is perfect for Venturing crews and Explorer posts. It offers a variety of stimulating activities designed to meet the needs of today’s youth who are seeking greater challenges to their physical and mental abilities. The underlying goals of a project COPE course are consistent with the methods of Scouting. Group activities help promote personal growth. Other Scouting methods are incorporated into the program. COPE provides an opportunity for every participant to achieve success as an individual member of their patrol or team.

COPE Schedule

COPE sessions are normally available on weekends from September through June – weather permitting. Please contact us as far in advance as possible to check availability. COPE programs are conducted at other times with advance reservations based on the availability of COPE facilitators. Please contact us as far in advance as possible. The minimum group size is six participants. A minimum fee applies for groups smaller than ten.

COPE Participation

Our COPE program is open to Scout and non-Scout youth groups as well as corporate and community organizations. Please provide a roster of participants when you arrive at the COPE facilities. Non Scouts BSA groups must comply with our Group Usage policy.

Participants in the full COPE program must be 13 years old as of January 1st of the year of participation or have completed the seventh grade. We can provide age appropriate programs for groups as young as fifth grade.

More Information

Climbing

Climbing offers the chance to expand personal boundaries, problem solve and test yourself. Before the end of the day, climbers find out just what they can do. Quite often, it’s more than they ever dreamed possible. Climbing can foster self-esteem, teamwork, communication, and adventure.

Participants can go rock climbing through council-run programs or unit-run outings. Council-run programs include summer camp, council and district events, or PPC’s climbing sessions. Bring your youth to Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation (MASR) where we provide instructors, gear, and training for you to learn how to climb and rappel, work on the Climbing merit badge, or just have fun climbing! Unit-run outings include going to climbing gyms, hiring guides, or running your own climbing outing. For all unit-run climbing outings, units need to follow the 8 points of Climb On Safely. That includes having Qualified Supervision (a Climb On Safely trained leader) to run the outing and having Qualified Instruction (gym staff, climbing guides, or a BSA Level II Climbing Instructor) to run the climbing.

The Patriots’ Path Council offers BSA Climbing Instruction training. A Level II Climbing Instructor is qualified to join paid Council Climbing and COPE program staff, and help run outdoor top-roped rock climbing and rappelling programs. CIs can supervise and teach Scouts basic climbing fun in Ground School, to select and rig a rock climbing site, and to take Scouts climbing and rappelling on rock crags. PPC Level II CIs are also allowed to run their unit climbing activities at Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation (MASR). Topics include gear inspection and management, ground school, site selection, bolted and natural anchor system rigging and emergency procedures.

Adult Rock Climbing

Adult Rock Climbing is offered at Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservations (MASR) one Sunday a month between noon and 5:00 p.m. rain or shine, through most of the year. Adults and leaders of all climbing backgrounds are welcome to participate. Each adult may bring one Scout-aged son or daughter.

See what BSA top-roped climbing is all about! Have fun and learn something about belaying, climbing and rappelling. Learn skills for our BSA Climbing Instructor (CI) training. If you’ve taken CI training or are an experienced climber, come on out to brush up or advance your instructor or climbing skills.

To register, e-mail Larry Borshard (misterLB@optonline.net) at least four days in advance with your choice of date, mobile phone number, and names and ages of anyone you’d like to bring. You’ll get a reply confirming your sign-up.

Limited openings! First-come, first served! *FREE*

2018 Adult Rock Climbing Dates:

May 20, 2018

June 3, 2018

July 15, 2018

August 12, 2018

September 9, 2018

October 14, 2018

November 11, 2018

December 9, 2018

Climbing Instructor Training

By completing this training, you will be a qualified Level I Climbing Instructor (CI) and can help Level II CIs run exciting rock climbing programs! With practice and proficiency, you can return for an evaluation to become a Level II CI. Topics include gear inspection and management, knots and rigging, site selection and safety, teaching skills, running program, and emergency procedures.

Climb On Safely

Designed for unit climbing/rappelling, Climb On Safely, No. 430-099, is the BSA’s recommended procedure for organizing and managing climbing and rappelling activities at all levels of the Scouting program: Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouting, Webelos Scouting, Scouts BSA, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. It offers guidance for climbing and rappelling at natural sites and at specifically designed facilities, including climbing towers and fixed and portable walls.

Climb On Safely is for the unit leader(s) who will supervise climbing at a natural site or at a specifically designed facility, such as an indoor or outdoor climbing wall or tower. This training is also required for indoor climbing.

Climb On Safely is not designed to prepare leaders to instruct BSA youth in the skills of climbing or rappelling. Teaching climbing or rappelling requires a trained climbing instructor who meets the criteria defined in Climb On Safely.

BSA guidelines require Climb on Safely training for all unit-level climbing and rappelling activities. One way to keep older youth in our programs is to get them out climbing. This class will show you how to keep it safe while they experience the fun.

Refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting for the 8 Points of COS as your safe climbing outing checklist, and read this recommended supplement to On-Line COS training: COS for Climbing Gyms.